Printing press



C. S. CRAFTS PRINTING PRESS Oct. 19, 19.37.

Filed March 9, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. S. CRAFTS HUNTING PRESS FiledMarch 9, 1936 Oct. 19, 1937.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Oct. 19, 1937. c. s. CRAFTS PRINTING PRESSFiled March 9, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNvE T R y-WML.

ATTORNEYS Patented oct. 19, 1931 PATENT OFFICE PRINTING PRESS Curtis S.Crafts, Oak P ark, Ill., assignor to The Goss Printing Press Company,Chicago, Ill., a

corporation of Illinois Application March 9,

17 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in inking means forrotary intaglio printing presses, and more especially to suchimprovements embodied in inking means adapted to project a sheet of inkagainst the surface f a design cylinder.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

'I'he accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together withthe description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:- Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a press embodyingthe invention and is taken on line l-l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a full side elevation looking at Fig. 1 from the left,

Fig. 3 is a top plan, with parts broken away, of the manifold inknozzle; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section corresponding to the left-hand part ofFig. 1.

Objects of the invention are to provide in a rotary intaglio printingpress inking means adapted to project a thin sheet of ink against andalong the design cylinder, which inking means is of simple and sturdystructure and has very feW parts; to provide such a mechanism which isquickly and easily movable between inking position and a retractedposition which aiiords free access to the design cylinder and the inkfountain; to provide means for moving the inking mechanism between thesepositions in substantially balanced relation requiring a minimum oflifting or other effort; to provide quick and easy access to thechannels of the ink manifold, and also to provide a mechanism having itstop part free and unobstructed by ink supply pipes, clamps or othermechanism; to provide for removal of the inking mechanism from operativeposition with the design cylinder and its return to operating positionwithout disturbing the ink supply mechanism; and to provide accurate andsimple means, acting at a plurality of points on the inking means toaccurately position it relatively to the design cylinder.

1936, Serial N0. 67,837

With these and other objects in view, an embodiment of the invention isprovided wherein the ink manifold occupies the unobstructed upper partof the device, with a single bolted-on coverv plate, uponvremoval of'which al1 the ink conduits are open and unobstructed. This ink supplyhead is pivoted on a horizontal axis, and is held in operative relationwith respect to the design cylinder by powerful springs, the inking headbeing swingable away from the design cylinder and in a backward anddownward direction against increasing compression of the springs whichtake the Weight of the inking head as it descends and assist in the.subsequent lifting and swinging thereof back to operative position. Theink supply is through a pipefrom below, which has a rotary joint coaxialwith the axis of the inking head itself, whereby the swinging of theinking head is effected without disturbing the ink supply line. A sleevejoint in the ink supply line also permits vertical adjustment of the inksupply nozzle without disturbing the supply pipe, and the supply pipecoming from below leaves the entire top and front of the inkingmechanism unobstructed. The resilient pressure of the springs also actsto hold the inking head firmly yet resiliently in operative positionwith respect to the design cylinder. 'I'he entire inking manifold is fcarried on a plurality of spaced-apart screw bolts by which it isaccurately positioned locally throughout its length to insure exactpositioning at all points of the ink slot with respect to the designcylinder.

The foregoing general description and the following detailed descriptionas well are illustrative and exemplary but are not restrictive of theinvention.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, illustrating byway of example one embodiment of the invention, a printing cylinder i isshown which carries an intaglio design, such as a photogravure design.'I'he cylinder is removably journaled in the press frame 2, in a knownmanner, by journal mountings of known or other suitable form (notshown). Cooperating with the design cylinder I is an impression cylinder3, which likewise may be of standard lor other suitable form, thecylinder 3 also being suitably mounted in the press frame 2. A backingcylinder 4 is also shown in cooperative relation with the cylinder 3,the cylinder 4 likewise being journaled in the press frame.

'I'he inking system is of the type wherein a, thin sheet of ink isprojected against the design cylinder fairly close to the impressionline in quantities considerably beyondthe actual printing requirements,the ink being carried forward on the surface of the cylinder, parts of'it leaving the cylinder during its rotation by reason of the gravitaland centrifugal action, the final surplus of ink being removed by thedoctor blade near the line of impression. In this type of inkingmechanism the entire body of ink is continuously in iiowage and iscontinuously intermixed and agitated, and there is a kinetic impact-ofthe ink against the design and flowage of ink relatively to the designacting to keep the design clean and freshly inked.

The inventionis shown applied to a press of the closed ink fountaintype, such as is used with quick-drying ink in fast rotogravureprinting. The enclosing end wall of the ink fountain is indicated by IIand the doctor blade mechanism by I2. The latter may be of any suitableconstruction so far as concerns the present invention, and the mechanismshown is that described and claimed in my copending application S. N.57,683 led January 6, 1936, which has proved itself in commercialoperation to be notably eftlcient in fast rotogravure printing withquick-drying inks. The inking mechanism comprises a reservoir whichreceives the ink flowing down from the design cylinder, from whichreservoir the ink is returned through the inking system to again ink thedesign cylinder. As shown, the reservoir I5 is mounted on the pressframe beneath the design cylinder and constitutes the bottom part of theclosed ink fountain. 'I'he bottom I6 of the reservoir I5 ismultidirectionally downwardly inclined to constitute a plurality of lowdrainage points I1, from which a plurality of ink-conveying pipes I8convey the ink to suitable ink-conveying means, such as a circulatingpump (not shown). The top of the reservoir I5 is closed by a cribrateclosure I9, which serves to keep any lint, dirt or other particles inthe ink from passing into the reservoir.

'I'he inking means of the present invention as embodied comprises aninking head adapted to project a thin sheet of ink against the entirelength of the rotating design cylinder at its upper portion and onlyslightly ahead of the impression line, the ink flowing about the greaterpart of the circumference of the cylinder, the nal surplus being removedby the doctor blade. As embodied, a carrier 21 is pivotally mounted on ahorizontal axis by a plurality of hinges 28,

which are supported on. a plurality of brackets 29 bolted to the outsideof the reservoir I5 and projecting upwardly therefrom. The carrier 21 ismainly a vertically disposed plate which extends entirely across betweenthe side frames 2 of the press, and at either side it has internallyvertically angled members 3| overlapping the vertical edges of the pressside frames, and which contact with nished faces on the frames to bringthe carrier to exact position. Along its bottom the carrier 21 has aninwardly and downwardly projecting skirt or flange 32, the bottom faceof which seats upon the finished horizontal top edge 33 of the reservoirI5, and the flange also overhangs and projects downwardly over the topedge of I5 and constitutes a tight seal and decctor for the downwardlyflowing ink.

The inking head or manifold nozzle is mounted on the swingable carrier21, and is accurately and firmly positioned relatively thereto at vari`ousY points,- independently, throughout its length and across the press,so as to bring the entire nozzle slot into desired relation with respectto the design. As embodied, the manifold comprises a horizontallydisposed, vertically extending` plate 31 and a horizontally disposed,outwardly inclined plate 52. Plate 52 serves as `the support forthejmanifold ink nozzle and plate 31 engages with the inner verticalface of the carrier 21 (Fig. 1) and is vertically movable relatively tocarrier 21 and is held thereto by means of a plurality of screw Abolts39, spaced apart across the press. The screw bolts passing throughenlarged slotted openings 46 in the carrier 21 are screw-threaded intothe vertical plate 31 of the inking head thereby permitting the verticalpositioning movement asdescribed and subsequent rm holding of the partsin position, The inking head is supported at a plurality of spaced-apartpoints upon the carrier 21, and each of these supports is provided witha separate fine and accurate positioning means, which may lbeindependently actuated to effect accurate positioning of the nozzle slotthroughout its length with respect to the design. As embodied, aplurality'of screw members 45 are threaded into the top surface of thecarrier 21, the under face of plate 52 of the inking head resting uponthe tops of the screw members 45 for which purpose a plurality ofmachined pads 46 are formed on the under side of the plate 52. Each ofthe screw members 45 may be independently actuated to secure therequisite nice adjustment throughout the entire length of the ink slot,and after the positioning is completed the bolts 39 are screwed home tohold the parts firmly in position. v

The embodied form of the manifold ink nozzle comprises a channeled plate5I resting upon the laterally inclined top of plate 52 lof the inkinghead. Plate 5I has along 4its forward part a horizontally disposed,downwardly extending face 53 which extends over and ts against the frontedge of the backwardly and downwardlyextending plate 52, thereby firmlyseating the plate 5I and accurately positioning the two members. The inkchannels 55 are formed in the upper face of the plate 5I, and areramified and disposed to give a uniform and free ow of the inkthroughout and terminates in the nozzle opening extending along thefront edge of inwardly and downwardly extending lip 59 of plate 5I, thisslot extending along the entire length of the v design cylinder. Theclosure for the ink channelsI 55 is preferably a single flat plate 56,which lies flat on top of the plate 5I, and bolts 51 pass through plate56 and are threaded into plate 5I,

thereby firmly uniting the two parts together. i

This ink manifold is held firmly on support 52 by suitable bolts. Theforward edge 58 of plate 56 is downwardly inclined so as to form the topof the nozzle slot which is formed between it and the' downwardly andforwardly projecting lip 59 of the plate 5I. A suitable sealing strip 60is mounted on the inner end of plate 56 to prevent escape of ink betweenthe ink nozzle and the design cylinder. A splash plate 6I is mounted onthe inside of the inking head. The entire inking head is of very simple,compact and sturdy construction with exceedingly few parts, and the rtopis unencumbered by piping, clamps and the The ink is supplied to theinking head by means of pipes mounted on the fountain structure andintegral with the general design, and the pipes need not be detached ormanipulated when the inking mechanism is moved between operativeposition and inoperative position to give access to the design cylinderand to the fountain, and all loose and extraneous piping is obviated. Asembodied, the ink is supplied into the ink manifold through an opening61, which communicates into a vertically disposed pipe 68. Pipe 68 has asleeve connection with a pipe 69, formed in a casting which is bolted onto the exterior wall of the carrier 21, and the joint is supplied with apacking gland 10, thereby allowing for vertical movement and positioningof the inking head. The lower end of the vertical pipe 69 communicateswith a horizontally disposed pipe 13, which is concentric with thehinges 28, and has a rotating t into a pipe 14 formed in a bracket 15which is bolted on to the exterior wall of the reservoir I5. The jointbetween the two pipes has a packing gland 16. A pipe 11 connects fromthe pipe 14, and communicates with the circulating pump or other inksupplying means.

Means are provided for permitting quick and easy movement of the inkingmechanism to and fro between the inking position and the open position,and as embodied lspring means are employed to support most of theweight, or a desired `u'oportion of the weight, of the inking mechaiism,that is, to supply approximately balanced action as it is moveddownwardly to the opening position, shown in Fig. 4, and back again tothe operative. position, shown in Fig. 1. As embodied, at either side ofthe mechanism, a plurality of socket members 8| are hinged at 82 to lugs83, formed on the exterior of the carrier 21. Nesting within each of thesockets 8l are the upper ends of rods 85,' the lower ends of the rodsprojecting through openings in guide blocks 89 and being longitudinallymovable with respect to the guide blocks. The guide blocks 89 arepivotally mounted at 98 in ears 9| which are mounted on the press frame.Encircling the rods 85, and in compression between the socket members 8|and the guide blocks 89 are powerful coil springs 93. When the inkingmechanism is in operative position the pivots 82 are above and on theinside of the hinge joints 28 on which the inking head is mounted, andthe springs 93 therefore exert resilient pressure to support the inkinghead on its seat. As the inking head is swung outwardly on the hingejoints 28 away from the design cylinder, its movement is chieyhorizontal, and pivot points 82 likewise move out nearly horizontallyover and past the hinge joints 28, and there is very little action ofthe springs 93. As the inking head swings farther outwardly anddownwardly, the pivot points 82 swing outwardly and downwardly aroundand past the hinge joints 28, and springs 93 are powerfully andincreasingly compressed and tend to carry much of the weight of theinking head until the position of Fig. 4 is reached, when the springs 93are under their fullest compression. The increasing compression on thesprings tends strongly to counterbalance the weight of the inker head.It will be clear that as the inking head is swung upwardly from theposition of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 1, the springs 93 will assistpowerfully in lifting the head about the hinge joints 28.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specicmechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What I claim is:

1. A rotary intaglio printing press including in combination a printingcouple having an intaglio design cylinder, an inking mechanismcomprising an inking head having a nozzle extending along the designcylinder and adapted to emit a sheet of ink against the cylinder, ahorizontal pivotal mounting for said inking mechanism and means forcounterbalancing the weight of the inking mechanism as it moves up anddown about its pivotal mounting.

2. A rotary intaglio printing press including in combination a printingcouple having an intaglio design cylinder, an inking mechanismcomprising an inking head having a nozzle extending along the designcylinder and adapted to emit a sheet of ink against the cylinder, apivotal mounting about which said inking mechanism is movable into andout of operative relation with the design cylinder and spring meansacting to counterbalance the weight thereof as the inking mechanism ismoved toward and from inking position.

3. A rotary intaglio printing press including in combination a printingcouple having an intaglio design cylinder, an inking mechanismcomprising an inking head having a nozzle extending along the designcylinder and adapted to emit a sheet of ink against the cylinder, apivotal mounting at the bottom of said inking mechanism about which themechanism is movable into and out of operative relation with the designcylinder and spring means connected to the inking mechanism above saidpivotal mounting and supported at a point below said pivotal mountingand acting to counterbalance the weight of the inking mechanism as it ismoved toward and from inking position about its pivotal mounting.

4. A rotary intaglio printing press including in combination a printingcouple having an intaglio design cylinder, an inking mechanismcomprising an inking head having a nozzle extending along the designcylinder and adapted to emit a sheet of ink against the cylinder, apivotal mounting at the bottom of said inking mechanism about which themechanism is movable into and out of operative relation with the designcylinder, resilient supporting means for the inking mechanism comprisinga. rod pivotally connected to the inking mechanism and a compressionspring encircling said rod, the compression on the spring increasing asthe inking mechanism is swung backwardly and downwardly from the inkingposition.

5. A rotary intaglio printing press including in combination a printingcouple having an intaglio design cylinder, an inking mechanismcomprising an inking head having a nozzle extending along the designcylinder and adapted to emit a sheet of ink against the cylinder, apivotal mounting at the bottom of said inking mechanism about which themechanism is movable into and out of operative relation with the designcylinder, and resilient means acting on the inking mechanism andincluding a spring which passes under greater compression as the inkingmechanism is moved outwardly and downwardly to counterbalance the weightof the mechanism.

6. A rotary intaglio printing press including in combination a printingcouple having an intaglio design cylinder, an inking mechanismcomprising an inking head having a nozzle extending along the designcylinder and adapted to emit a sheet of ink against the cylinder, apivotal mounting at the bottom of said inking cylinder about which themechanism is movable into and out of operative relation with the designcylinder, a plurality of spaced-apart rods pivotally connected to theinking mechanism above its pivotal point, guide blocks within which saidrods are longitudinally movable, and compression springs encircling saidrods between their pivot points land their guide blocks.

7. A rotary intaglio printing press including incombination a printingcouple having an intaglio design cylinder, an inking mechanismcomprising an inking head having a nozzle extending along the designcylinder and adapted to emit a sheet of ink against the cylinder, acarrier for the inking head, and a plurality of supports between thecarrier andinking head provided with independently operatedscrew-threaded means for regulating the position of the inking head.

8. A rotary intaglio printing press including in combination a printingcouple having an `intaglio design cylinder, an inking mechanismcomprising an inking head having a nozzle extending along the designcylinder and adapted to emit a sheet of ink against the cylinder, acarrier for the inking head, and a plurality of spaced-apart screw boltsthreaded into the carrier and upon which the inking head is supported.

9. A rotary intaglio printing press including in combination a printingcouple having an intaglio design cylinder, an inking mechanismcomprising an inking head having a nozzle extending along the designcylinder and adapted to emit a sheet of ink against the cylinder, acarrier for the inking head, a plurality of spaced-apart supportsbetween the carrier and inking head, said supports being independentlyactuable to regulate the position of the inking head, and means forclamping the inking head in a desired position.

10. A rotary intaglio printing press including in combination a printingcouple having an intaglio design cylinder, an inking mechanismcomprising an inking head having a nozzle extending along the designcylinder and adapted to emit a sheet of ink against the cylinder, acarrier for the inking head, a pivotal mounting at the bottom of thecarrier about which the carrier and head are movable into and out ofinking position, and spring means impelling the carrier and headupwardly and toward inking position.

l1. A rotary intaglio printing press including in combination a printingcouple having an intaglio design cylinder, a pivotally mounted carrier,a plurality of spaced-apart supports extending upwardly from saidcarrier, the height of said supports being independently variable, aninking head resting upon said supports and having a nozzle adapted toemit a sheet of ink against the cylinder, and means for clamping thehead firmly in position while resting upon said supports.

l2. A rotary intaglio printing press including in combination a printingcouple having an intaglio design cylinder, a pivotally mounted carrier,a plurality of spaced-apart supports extending upwardly from saidcarrier, the height of said supports being independently variable, aninking head resting upon said supports and having a :2,096,3222` wfgnozzle'ada-pted to emita sheet of ink against the cylinder,` the headand' carrier having vertical contactingsuraces provided with bolt andslot connections "to clamp the head rmly in supported position.

13. A rotary intaglio-printing press including in combination a.printing couple having an intaglio design cylinder,a pivotally mountedcarrier, a plurality of spaced-apart supports extending upwardly fromsaid carrier, the height of said supports being independently variable,an inking head resting upon said supports `and having a nozzle adaptedto emit asheet of ink against the cylinder, the head and carrier havingvertical contacting surfacesprovided with bolt and slot connections toclamp` the head firmly in supported position and springhmeans acting onsaid carrier to impel it upwardly` about its pivotal mounting and towardinking position. j

14. A rotary'intaglio printing ,press including in combination aprinting couple having an intaglio design cylinder, an inking mechanismcomprising an inking head having a nozzle extending along the designcylinder and adapted to emit a sheet of ink against the cylinder,pivotal supporting means for the inking head, and meansfor supplying inkto the inking head including a pipe having portions capable of relativerotation concentric with the pivotal mounting for the inl;-

ing head. ,j

15. A rotary intaglio printing press including in combination a printingcouple having an in` taglio design cylinder, an inking mechanism comiprising an inking head having a nozzle extending along the designcylinder and adapted to emit a sheet of ink against thecylinder,vpivotal supporting means for the inking head, and means mounting for theinking head and a rotary sleeve joint in said concentric portion.

in combination a printing couple having an intaglio design cylinder, aninking head having a nozzle extending along the design cylinder andadapted to emit a sheet of ink against the cylinder, a pivoted supportfor the inking head, means for vertically positioning the inking headrelatively to its support, and means for supplying ink to the inkinghead including a conduit mounted on said carrier, and having a slidingsleeve joint between the carrier and inking head.

17. A rotary intaglio printing press including in combination a printingcouple having an intaglio design cylinder, an inking head having anozzle extending along the design cylinder and adapted to emit a sheetof ink against the cyl- 16. A rotary intaglio printing pressincluding"l" inder, a pivoted support for the inking head l

